Tim Gates

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The Widener University Commonwealth Law School graduate went on to lead attorneys in state government, oversee complex litigation and serve as chief counsel to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Today, as a partner at Myers, Brier & Kelly in Harrisburg, he draws on that experience to help businesses and professionals navigate government investigations, licensing matters and regulatory requirements.

What first drew him to the work remains a source of purpose: the chance to listen, understand a problem, and help someone move forward.

That idea took hold during his earliest days at Widener Law Commonwealth, when Professor Randy Lee spoke about the opportunity lawyers have to help people through some of the most challenging moments in their lives. Gates had arrived with an interest in public service. Lee helped him see how a law degree could put that interest to work.

“It really struck a chord for me,” Gates said.

He soon found a way to begin. Determined to gain experience at the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office, Gates followed up on an internship application and offered to help wherever he was needed. The office’s Health Care Section needed someone to answer its hotline, and he volunteered.

The position was unpaid and initially carried no academic credit. For Gates, it was an opportunity to get to work.

Callers brought questions and concerns about their health care, giving him firsthand experience listening to people, identifying what they needed and seeking help on their behalf. As he took on more responsibilities, the role developed into an externship and then an internship. He continued working with the office throughout law school and joined the Health Care Section as a deputy attorney general after graduating in 2005.

“It’s actually one of the most rewarding jobs I think I’ve had ever,” he said.

Gates helped Pennsylvania take a larger leadership role in multistate pharmaceutical investigations, working with attorneys general’s offices across the country. He valued both the collaboration and the opportunity to produce results for the people his office served.

His responsibilities grew when he became deputy chief counsel for litigation at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in 2011. There, he led a team handling hundreds of cases and deepened his experience in constitutional law, federal litigation and mediation. Traveling to courthouses across Pennsylvania, he built relationships with attorneys and judges while working to resolve cases and use the commonwealth’s resources responsibly.

In 2015, he became chief counsel to the Department of State, overseeing a large legal office whose work included professional licensing and elections. The role brought significant management responsibilities and litigation in state and federal courts, including cases arising from the 2020 and 2022 elections. Gates approached that work as service to the agency and the commonwealth, with a focus on the legal responsibilities entrusted to his team.

After nearly two decades in government, he saw an opportunity to bring that experience to private practice and help build Myers, Brier & Kelly’s Harrisburg office.

The possibility emerged from a conversation with Dan Brier, a lawyer Gates had worked with at the Department of State and considers a mentor. Gates asked for guidance about his next step. Brier offered something more: a chance to join the firm and help expand its presence in the capital.

“For me, I’m a builder and a fixer,” Gates said.

He has embraced that work, growing the office and bringing together colleagues with substantial government experience. His familiarity with regulatory processes now helps clients understand what to expect and make informed decisions about matters affecting their businesses, professional licenses and livelihoods.

Being downtown also matters to him. Gates has made his home and career in central Pennsylvania, where he and his wife are raising three children.

“I’ve got a passion for Harrisburg as a city,” he said.

His interest in service began well before law school. Gates worked on a neighbor’s farm starting around age 12 and joined the Army shortly after high school. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the Multinational Force and Observers Task Force, earning multiple commendations.

After leaving the Army, he studied international politics at Penn State, initially considering a career with the FBI or another federal agency. Meeting his future wife helped him recognize how much he wanted to build a life in Pennsylvania. Law school offered a way to pursue meaningful work close to home.

Widener’s proximity to state government appealed to him immediately. When he explored admission after the usual application deadlines, the Trial Admissions Program gave him an opportunity to begin. He still remembers the welcome he received and the professors who helped him find his footing.

“I’ll never forget the opportunities that I have that are because of Widener,” he said.

Interview conducted in Fall 2026.